West Virginia Inmate Search

The West Virginia Division of Correction and Rehabilitation oversees 20 correctional centers and regional jails, managing over 5,300 adult offenders. Kanawha, Wood, and Berkeley Counties have the highest number of inmates, with about 424, 363, and 332 inmates, respectively.

Most inmate records in West Virginia are public and can be accessed using inmate search tools. The West Virginia Division of Correction and Rehabilitation provides these tools, which allow the public to find non-confidential information about inmates in state prisons and county jails. These tools show details about inmates in custody and where they are located. This helps friends and family stay informed and in touch with their loved ones.

What is West Virginia Inmate Lookup?

In West Virginia, inmate lookup allows people to find non-confidential information about individuals under the supervision of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Division offers public access to information about inmates in both regional jails and correctional facilities. Anyone can use the statewide offender search portal to look up inmates in state correctional facilities. For those in regional jails, a different inmate search tool is available. These lookup services promote transparency within the correctional system. Using the West Virginia inmate lookup, individuals can obtain essential details such as an inmate's name, the charges that resulted in their incarceration, and their current status. The inmate lookups also provide information on court orders related to an inmate, including upcoming court dates and relevant decisions. Additionally, these services help family and friends find where an inmate is located within the correctional system, making it easier for them to plan visits.

What Information Can You Find in a West Virginia Inmate Search?

When searching for inmates in West Virginia, individuals can usually expect to find the following information:

• Inmate's full name
• Gender
• Booking date
• Location of Incarceration
• Court ordered list

How Are Inmate Records in West Virginia Created and Stored?

The West Virginia Division of Correction and Rehabilitation (WVDCR) manages state inmate records. When an offender arrives at a correctional facility or regional jail, staff check the Offender Information System (OIS) using their social security number to see if they have been incarcerated. If no records exist, the staff creates a new profile for the offender. The process begins by entering the offender's name as it appears on the committing document, such as a court order or federal remand. For adult offenders, staff take three passport photographs using a LIVEscan device. For juveniles, one photograph is taken and uploaded to the OIS.

Along with the photographs, staff add essential information about the offender, including medical and mental health records, to the OIS system. The WVDCR also provides a central database of all inmates, which the public can access. This allows friends, family, and community members to look up inmates anytime.

What Does West Virginia's Prison System Look Like?

West Virginia has 20 correctional facilities managed by the Division of Correction and Rehabilitation (WVDCR). These facilities provide custody, care, and rehabilitation for individuals under WVDCR's supervision, helping them prepare to re-enter society after their release.

More than 3,700 employees work in these correctional centers across the state. In 2024, the budget for West Virginia's prison and jail system is $479,114,363. The facilities are divided into three security levels: minimum, medium, and maximum.

Minimum-security facilities hold pretrial felons and people sentenced for less serious crimes, including misdemeanors. Medium-security facilities house individuals who can follow rules but still pose some security risks. Maximum-security facilities are for inmates who need constant supervision because they are a high risk.

Types of Correctional Facilities in West Virginia

The state of West Virginia has 10 correctional centers and 10 regional jails. Each houses a different demographic and has specific levels of custody. The West Virginia Division of Correction and Rehabilitation Bureau of Prisons oversees each facility, reentry programs, and services. On the other hand, the West Virginia Division of Correction and Rehabilitation Bureau of Juvenile Services oversees the 10 juvenile detention centers and 20 youth reporting centers across the state. The state also has three federal correctional institutions, two federal prison camps, and one federal correctional complex.

West Virginia State Prisons

The state of West Virginia has 10 correctional centers. Each serves a different demographic and has various custody levels. Some of these facilities also offer mental health and substance abuse treatment. Below is the list of all correctional centers in West Virginia:

• Salem Correctional Center and Jail
• St. Mary's Correctional Center and Jail
• Pruntytown Correctional Center and Jail
• Ohio County Correctional Center and Jail
• Mount Olive Correctional Complex and jail
• Stevens Correctional Center
• Martinsburg Correctional Center and Jail
• Lakin Correctional Center and Jail
• Denmar Correctional Center and Jail
• Huttonsville Correctional Center

West Virginia County Jails

West Virginia has 10 regional county jails. These jails are under the supervision of the West Virginia Division of Correction and Rehabilitation Bureau of Prisons. They typically hold pretrial detainees and inmates who have been sentenced to short-term stays for their punishment. The Virginia Division of Correction and Rehabilitation offers an inmate search tool that allows the public to view information about inmates in any of the regional jails in the state. Below is a list of West Virginia regional county jails:

• Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Eastern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• North Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Potomac Highlands Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• South Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Southern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Southwestern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Tygart Valley Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Western Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

West Virginia Juvenile Detention Centers

The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Bureau of Juvenile Services, manages all youth detention centers in the state. These facilities accommodate young individuals aged 12 to 21 who have been sentenced by a court for committing a crime or are awaiting an upcoming court hearing. The centers also offer education, rehabilitation, victim services, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. The juvenile detention centers in West Virginia include the following:

• Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center
• Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center
• J.M. Chick Buckbee Juvenile Center
• Kenneth Honey Rubenstein Juvenile Center
• Lorrie Yeager Juvenile Center
• Robert L. Shell Juvenile Center
• Ronald Mulholland Juvenile Center
• Sam Perdue Juvenile Center
• Tiger Morton Juvenile Center
• Vicki Douglas Juvenile Center

Individuals interested in conducting juvenile inmate searches in West Virginia may contact each of the juvenile centers.

West Virginia Community Correctional Facilities

The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation manages community correctional facilities through the Bureau of Community Corrections. The Bureau helps offenders who are serving their sentences in the community, following court orders. They provide care and rehabilitation while ensuring public safety. The Bureau also tracks and audits programs for offenders to support their transition back into society after completing their sentences or being released on parole. The Bureau supervises all persons released on parole and placed in the charge of a state parole officer and all persons released on parole under any law of this state. It also supervises all probationers and parolees whose supervision may have been undertaken by this state. Below is a list of Community Correctional Facilities in West Virginia:

• Anthony Correctional Center
• Charleston Correctional Center and Jail
• Beckley Correctional Center and Jail
• Parkersburg Correctional Center and Jail

Why are People Incarcerated in West Virginia?

In West Virginia, individuals are incarcerated for several crimes, generally categorized as crimes against a person, property, or the government. While crimes against a person are typically regarded as violent crimes, crimes against property and government are regarded as non-violent crimes.

Crimes against a person in West Virginia include but are not limited to first and second-degree murder, child abuse, sexual offenses, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, concealment of deceased human body, homicide punishable within the state, attempt to kill or injure by poison, abortion, assault and battery, wanton endangerment involving the use of fire, strangulation, unlawful shooting, robbery, abduction, and kidnapping.

Crimes against property in West Virginia include burglary, arson, grand and petit larceny, larceny of banknotes and book accounts, embezzlement, falsifying accounts, use of automated sales suppression devices, monitoring customers telephone calls, trespassing, and shoplifting.

Crimes against the government generally include treason, invasion and insurrection, unlawful speeches and publications, desecration of flags, and impersonation of law enforcement officers. In addition to these categories of crimes, manufacturing, possession, and consumption of controlled substances may lead to incarceration in the state. As of year-end 2024, possession of controlled substances was the fourth leading cause of imprisonment in the state.

Anyone interested in conducting an inmate search to find out why a person is incarcerated in West Virginia may use the statewide inmate search tool. The state's Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation promotes public safety by incarcerating violent offenders and providing offender programs to facilitate successful reentry into society.

West Virginia's Incarceration Rate and Statistics

As of December 2022, the rate of incarceration in West Virginia was 331 per 100,000 population, with about 5,874 inmates in the custody of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The table below shows West Virginia's year-end incarceration rate over a 7-year period.

Life After Incarceration In West Virginia

The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation has a system to help offenders transition smoothly back into society after their release from prison. Reentry planning starts as soon as an inmate enters a correctional facility and continues throughout their time in prison and after they are released. All inmates serving felony sentences must first undergo screening and assessment to identify their risks and needs. This information helps create a case management plan tailored for each offender. Before release, inmates receive a list of services to help them prepare for reentry. These services include getting a new Social Security card, setting up medical and mental health appointments, arranging for medications, helping with Medicaid applications or reactivations, and providing information about housing, jobs, and education or counseling resources available after release.

West Virginia's efforts to ensure the smooth reentry of released inmates into society have yielded positive results. Only 24% of inmates released from the state's correctional facilities commit a repeat offense, which makes West Virginia one of the states with the lowest recidivism rate in the Commonwealth.

How Does Parole Work in West Virginia?

The West Virginia parole board reviews each inmate's progress, and when they feel a prisoner is rehabilitated and not a danger to society, they may release them early before finishing their sentence. When this happens, the inmate is given a list of stipulations they must comply with. If the inmate does not check in regularly with their parole officer or violates any of the other rules, they will return to prison to finish out their sentence. As of December 2022, the West Virginia parole population stood at 4,030.

West Virginia Parole Population in 2022

How Does Someone Get Probation in West Virginia?

Probation is a supervisory program where a West Virginia judge can order probation instead of prison. This privilege is most often given to first-time or low-risk offenders. Again, these individuals do have to comply with a list of court-ordered rules. If they fail to meet with the probation officer or complete any of the other terms of their probation, it will be revoked, and they will immediately go to prison. About 6,100 individuals were on probation in West Virginia as of year-end 2022.

West Virginia Probation Population in 2022